Tongs.



No. 732,100. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903 I J. MORGAN.

TONGS. P'PL'IOATIOH Hmm ooT.11. 1902.

l0 MODEL.

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UNTTED STATES Patented .T une 30, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,100, dated June 30,1903. Application iiled October ll, 1902. Serial No. 126.917. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom, it' may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs MORGAN, a citizen ot the United States,residing at West Philadelphia, in the city of Philadelphia and State 0fPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in 'longs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in tongs, and has for its object toprovide a convenient and handy device of this character which can beusedfora varietyof objects and which will be adapted for work where atighter grip is required than can well be had with tongs of the ordinaryconstruction.

The several features of my inventionare described in the followingspecification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a perspective view of a pair of tongsadapted for plumbers use. Fig. 2is an enlarged detail view, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a section drawnthrough one of the legs of the tongs. Fig. 4.- is a modification showingthe device adapted for use as a fruitpicker.

In carrying out my improvement I utilize a circular base-plate A,centrally perforated and having an integral upwardly-extending sleeve A,laterally slotted at A2 and open at each end. An annular flange A3terminates the upper end of the sleeve. Sliding in this sleeve andextending both above and below it is the rod B, threaded in its upperportion. At its upper end the rod carries a cap B and ring B2, and aiiy-nnt Bsworks on the threaded part ot the rod.

The plateA carries two oppositely-disposed pairs of lugs A4, and pivotedbetween each pair of lugs is a tong-leg O. Midway the length of thesetongs a shoulder C is formed, and the inner face of the tongs isrecessed adjacent the shoulder, as shown at C2. Below the shoulder vthetongs are concave in cross-section, as shown at C3, Figs. l and 3.Atogglejoint D is pivotally connected to the lower end of the rod B andalso pivotally connected through the link members D to the tongs C atthe recesses C2. The rod B is recessed at B4, said recess being adaptedto register with the slot A2, and a spring B5 is secured in said recess.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a somewhat similar construction, the iiy-nutbeing omitted, and at the ends of tongs E are positioned baskets E',formed of wire network and braced by the ring E2 and arc E3. Acutting-blade E4 is formed at the upperside of each ring. The operationof this device will be readily seen from the drawings.

The operation of my improved tongs is as follows: The spring B4,projecting through the opening A2, will hold them in a closed position,so that whenA carried by the ring the tongs will not Hy apart nor striketogether. By pressing in the spring and pushing the cap toward thesleeve the rod will slide inward, forcing the tongs apart by means ofthe toggle-joint D. By pulling on the ring the tongs will be drawntogether, and by turning the iiy-nut down against the iiange A3considerable gripping force may be secu red.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure hy Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a circular, perforated plate, a sleeve carriedon the plate and laterally slotted, a rod threaded at its upper endadapted to slide through the sleeve and plate, a spring carried by therod and adapted to engage the slotted portion of the sleeve, tongspivoted tothe plate, and a toggle-joint connecting the lower end of therod and the tongs.

2. The combination with aplate having an opening and a slotted sleevecarried by said plate, of tongs pivoted to the plate, a rod passingthrough said plate and sleeve, and having its upper end screw-threaded,a link connection between the lower end of the said rod and tongs, a nuton the screw-threaded end of rod, and a catch connecting said rod andsleeve.

The combination with a plate having an opening and supporting a slottedsleeve, of tongs pivoted to said plate, a rod passing through said plateand sleeve, a link connection between said rod and tongs and a catch onthe rod to engage the slot inthe sleeve to lock the tongs in a closedposition. i

*JAMES MORGAN.

Witnesses: ROBERT GLossEY,

JAMES DALrroN.

